There were few running backs in the NFL who took as much hype into 2025 as Bucky Irving — understandable after he cracked 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie in 2024 and went over 1,500 all-purpose yards.
Few running backs disappointed in 2025 as much as Irving, who was a shell of himself on the field and saw his numbers almost cut in half due to injuries and off-field issues — just 538 rushing yards and 865 all-purpose yards with 4 touchdowns after scoring 8 touchdowns as a rookie.
Irving is a quickly diminishing asset, which is why Pro Football Focus called him Tampa Bay’s top trade asset before the 2026 season, as the Buccaneers remain 1 of the NFL’s curiosities — a team trying to redefine itself after losing 2 of their greatest players of all time over the last month.
“Given their lack of other tradable assets, the Buccaneers could consider moving Bucky Irving for draft capital,” PFF’s John Kosko wrote. “His strong rookie season makes him an appealing option, and the relative ease of finding productive running backs later in the draft supports the idea. With ongoing issues along the offensive line, reallocating value from the running back position could help address more pressing needs.”
Injuries, Mental Health Issues Derail Bucky Irving
After playing in all 17 games as a rookie, Irving missed 7 games due to a variety of injuries and off-field issues in 2025.
For 2 months, the official word from the Buccaneers about why Irving was out boiled down to a shoulder injury, which didn’t turn out to be the whole truth after he missed a 7th consecutive game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12.
“I’m not so sure Bucky Irving is going to be back (against the Rams),” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said on Thursday, November 20. ” … It’s something that probably shouldn’t be out. But I don’t think he’s going to be back anytime soon. It’s definitely more information than what’s available in the injury report.”
Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud quote-tweeted a video clip of Florio talking about Irving and wrote Irving sought “mental health” help while he’s been away from the team since a Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Stroud later deleted the tweet and reworded another tweet to take out the words “mental health” about Irving’s status.
“Bucky Irving needed some extra support after becoming injured and being away from his team for the first time in his career, according to people close to the situation,” Stroud wrote on his official X account on Friday, November 21.
NFL’s Approach to Mental Health Has Changed
It’s worth pointing out we’re only a generation removed from, if an NFL player might have gone to his team and told them he was struggling with his mental health issues, he would have been met with blank stares or, even worse, complete disdain.
Times have changed. The NFL, like all of the professional sports leagues, now puts a heavy emphasis on caring for the mental health of its players.
“I personally think this Bucky Irving stuff is getting blown out of proportion (likely because it’s new news to us, but not to the Bucs),” Dr. Jeff Mueller wrote on his official X account. “Good for Bucky for seeking help if that’s what happened. He’s practicing with the team again. Gut feeling he plays week 13.”
Injury-Prone 1,500-Yard Bucs RB Called ‘Top Trade Asset’